Johnson begins his patrol across Mount Airy before sunrise, and so far has issued six citations

August 19, 1999
Web posted at: 3:23 p.m. EDT (1923 GMT)

From Reporter Al Feinberg

MOUNT AIRY, Maryland (CNN) -- Many people in drought-stricken towns along the East coast are under severe water restrictions. Very often that means no washing the car or watering the lawn.

And in one small Maryland town, the chief executive is up before dawn and on patrol as the chief enforcement officer of the water police.

"Sometimes I go out even at four o'clock," Mount Airy Mayor Gerald Johnson says, while on one of his random hour-long water patrols. "It's just keeping people honest."

In June, all 2,400 homeowners received notices from the city's water department of a total ban on outside water use -- restrictions even tougher than those imposed by the state only two weeks ago.

"People were turning their sprinklers on in the morning, going to work and (leaving) them on the whole day long," says Johnson.

So far, Johnson has issued a total of six citations, with fines ranging from $25 to $100. He thought the seventh one would be given to Stacy Sullivan when he came upon her watering her lawn with a garden hose in hand.

While on patrol, Johnson approaches Sullivan, only to discover she is watering her lawn with recycled water

But this ingenious and conservation-minded homeowner quickly showed the mayor that the hose was attached to her washing machine. She does laundry each day, then saves and recycles the run-off into her parched flowers and shrubs.

"I think it's just a little common sense to get by and have some flowers this summer, if you're gonna have any," Sullivan said.

Instead of a ticket, she earned the mayor's praise.

"That's just great. That's what I want to see," Johnson says.

The word is out all over town about Mayor Johnson's random water patrols. Water usage is down 17 percent.

He hopes Mount Airy has seen the light and gotten the water conservation message.

"If they don't have it by now, they never will."

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